An automated pipetting system includes a pipettor. The pipettor includes a pipetting channel, a first plunger mechanism operable to change a pressure in the pipetting channel to aspirate or dispense a liquid, and a second plunger mechanism operable to change the pressure in the pipetting channel to aspirate or dispense the liquid.

An automated pipetting system includes a pipettor. The pipettor includes a pipetting channel, a first plunger mechanism operable to change a pressure in the pipetting channel to aspirate or dispense a liquid, and a second plunger mechanism operable to change the pressure in the pipetting channel to aspirate or dispense the liquid.

A method for assigning a pipette tip to a certain class of pipette tips from a plurality of different pipette tip classes, the method including the following steps: coupling the pipette tip to a gas displacement device such that a device-side volume formed in the gas displacement device and a tip-side volume formed by the pipette tip communicate with each other, and thereby forming a measuring volume including the communicating volumes of the device-side volume and the tip-side volume; operating the gas displacement device and thereby changing the gas pressure in the measuring volume; detecting the gas pressure in the measuring volume over a detection time period; determining at least one absolute value of at least one characteristic variable characterizing the detected gas pressure; comparing the at least one determined absolute value with at least one predetermined calibration value; and, depending on the comparison result, assigning the pipette tip to a pipette tip class and outputting an item of class assignment information representing the assigned pipette tip class.

Systems and methods applicable, for instance, to pipette robots. A pipette robot can perform one or more operations regarding deck calibration, one or more operations regarding pipette tip/probe calibration, one or more operations regarding pipette tip pick up, and/or one or more operations regarding tip ejection.

Described are exemplary embodiments of a handheld, powered positive displacement pipette assembly, including a plurality of syringes of different volumes and a powered positive displacement pipette having unique mechanisms for the retention, identification, operation, and ejection of said syringes.

A pipette includes a capillary, a pressure chamber, a drive unit, and a control unit. The capillary has a first end and a second end that are two ends in a length direction and that are open. The pressure chamber communicates with an inside of the capillary via the second end. The drive unit changes a volume of the pressure chamber. The control unit controls the drive unit. The control unit outputs a vibrational movement signal that drives the drive unit so that a liquid moves from a mid-position in the capillary to a finish position that is located closer to the second end than the mid-position. The vibrational movement signal has a waveform that drives the drive unit so that the volume of the pressure chamber alternately increases and decreases repeatedly.

A metering head for a metering machine having a carrier having parallel attachments for picking up pipette tips wherein each attachment has a tube having a supporting protrusion at the bottom end at least one sleeve which surrounds the tube and can be axially shifted on the tube, and at least one elastomer O-ring which surrounds the tube a pressure plate above the sleeves having a plurality of first holes through which the tubes extend, wherein the pressure plate can be shifted along the tubes from a release position into a clamping position where the sleeves are pressed, at the bottom ends, against the adjacent O-rings, and the O-rings are expanded to clamp pipette tips; and a first shifting apparatus connected to the pressure plate moving the pressure plate between the release position and clamping position.

A multiple-antenna positioning system with a single drive element, providing reduced weight and complexity over systems that have a drive element for each antenna. In certain examples, each antenna can be coupled with a rotating spindle, with each antenna spindle being coupled with a pair of link arms. By driving a single drive spindle, each of the antenna spindles in the system can be rotated by the associated pair of link arms. The link arms can have an adjustable length, such as through a turnbuckle mechanism, to reduce backlash in the system, and in some examples can apply a preload to the system. By reducing backlash, the multiple antenna positioning system can have improved responsiveness to a rotation of the single drive element, as well as improved stability of the positioning of each antenna when the drive element is held in a fixed position.

Described are exemplary embodiments of a grasping mechanism for a powered, handheld positive displacement pipette, the grasping mechanism configured to grasp and releasably retain the piston head of a syringe that is usable with the pipette.

A spindle drive comprising a threaded spindle with an external thread, a spindle nut with an internal thread that is in engagement with the external thread of the threaded spindle, characterized in that the external thread of the threaded spindle has multiple threaded areas that are separated from each other by first flattenings on their circumference extending in the longitudinal direction, and the first flattenings have guide areas that abut the core diameter of the internal thread of the spindle nut.